Improvement in knapsacks, overcoats, and tents



, 5M@ JW HER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATESI PATENT EEicE..q

JOSEPH SHORT, 2D, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO PETER lV. NEEFUS AND HENRY R. CONKLIN, OF SAME PLACE.

lMPROVEMENT IN KNAPSACKS, OVERCOATS, AND TENTS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,468, dated October 8, 186i.

.To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SHORT, 2d, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Article for Army or Camp Equipage; and I do hereby declare that I[he following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part ot' this speciication, in which- Fignre l is an overcoat in form of a cavalry-roll. Fig. 2 is an vovercoat as a dress. Fig. 3 is an overcoat in form of a tent. Fig. 4 is an overcoat in form of a knapsack. Fig. 5 is the outside plan ot' the overcoat. Fig. G is the inside plan of the overcoat. Fig. 7 is a section of the overcoat atvB C. Fig. 8 is the strap for the knapsack. Fig. 9 is a tentpole jointed in such lengths that they may be carried in the coat when not in use. -F ig. 10 is a sleeve for the overcoat. Fig. ll is a ropepeg.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing a garment for army purposes which I denominate a water-proof armyovercoat, to be made of india-rubber cloth or any other water-proof fabric in manner and form as to be readily converted into an ordinary knapsack with haversack and cap-pouch, or into 'a tent seven (7) feet long by four (4) feet wide, or into a cavalry-roll that can be used by the rider for the same purposes as used by the foot soldier, or may be used as a waterproof covering for his horse.

A is the form of the cloth before folding; a., the straps for fastening the coat when on with the alternate buttons and holes; b, the piece att-ached to A forming the collar and cape to the coat; c, the loop, to guide the shoulder-straps when used as a knapsack; d, the clothes-pocket; e e, the ration or haversack pockets; f, the cross-strap securely riveted to the shoulder-straps g g; h, the hook for graduating the length of the shoulder-straps .and retaining them in their places; t, the holes for the pin b in the upper end of the poles; k, the loops on upper end of sleeve to attach to buttons on under side of the cape; m, an aperture or incision crosswise under the collar or cape forming the neck-yoke for the coat;

n, the cappouch on one of the straps ct; A, the tent-curtains.

To enable others skilled in the art to make use of my invention, I will describe the method of using it in the forms and for the purposes claimed.

First, for the overcoat, Fig. 2, the head is put through the incision m, so that the point of the collar or cape b will come on the back between the shoulders. The sleeves are then buttoned on under the cape by the loop and buttons thereto attached. The front straps a are then passed behind and buttoned together, the straps a on back part are brought around the waist and bnttoned in front, having the cap-pouch n on the right side in front. The Waterproof overcoat is then complete.

Second, to form a cavalry-roll, Fig. l, the sides are folded in so as to give it such width as will be required for its length when rolled up. It is then to be rolled up in the ordinary manner and secured by using the straps of Fig. S.

Third, to form a tent, the curtains A (which are not permanently attached) are to be put on pins Z ot the poles, so they will hang down, the `covering then to be put on, letting the pins Z pass through the holes t'. The ropes are then put out and secured by driving the pegs, Fig. l1, in the ground sufficiently to hold them.

Fourth, to form a knapsack, the sides are folded in to make it the required width. It is then folded up so as to bring the point of the collar or cape b up and have the tour loops o outside. The straps, Fig. S, are then pnt in the loops c and so adjusted as to bring the cross-strap f on the back between the shoulders. The straps are carried over the shoulders at the top and under the arms from the bottom and secured together by the hook h, or its equivalent, thus doing away with the ordinary breast-strap and placing the weight more directly on the shoulders and back of the carrier.

It will readily be seen that my invention may be used as an overcoat with haversaek and cap-pouch, as a knapsack, as a cavalryroll, as a blanket, as a tent for one person, and when combined with the canvas curtain or sides as a tent for two peisons, and by any additional number of them desirable may easily be extended to form the surface of a capaeious tent o1' saloon.

Having thus fully described and explained my invention and the uses thereof, what claim, and desire to secure oy Letters Patent,

The formation of a water-proof oveleoat,

substantially as described, so that it may be easily: and readily transformed into aeavalryroll, oi' a full and complete knapsaek with haversaek combined, or a Water-proof tent, foi1 the several purposes set forth.

JOSEPH SHORT, 2D. Vit-nesses:

T. T. EVERETT, H. R. CoNKLIN. 

